Propulsion control for outboard motor boats



April 10, 1951 P. R. REID PROPULSION CONTROL FOR OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS Filed Aug. 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l luvsm'ok PAUL R. Ram

ATTo RN EYS April 10, 1951 P. R. REID 2,548,121

PROPULSION CONTROL FOR OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS Filed Aug. 11, 1947 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll INVENTOR PAUL R.REID

ATTOKNEYS April 10, 19511 P. R. REID PROPULSION CONTROL FOR OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet Pi: Aug. 11, 1947 gwuc/n-tom PAUL R. REID Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROPULSION CONTROL FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Paul R. Reid, Madill, Okla.

different desired boat speeds.

The main object of this invention is to provide a propulsion control including a guide or deflector to receive the column of water as it is delivered by the propeller, reverse its course of flow and direct it forwardly and downwardly to regulate the forward motion of the boat or to drive the same in reverse direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide the guide or deflector with one or more internal baflies or division plates, to more efficiently reverse the direction of flow of the column of projected water and prevent as much as possible any loss of power caused by the reversal of flow.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a guide or deflector as an attachment to outboard motors, having a suitable supporting structure including linkage and lever mechanism whereby the guide or deflector may be raised to an inactive position, out of the water, or lowered into the water to different active positions adjacent to the propeller, which isrelatively simple in construction, inexpensive .to manufacture and may-be readily attached to the standard type of outboard motors.

A further object of this invention is to pro- 1 vide a propulsion control guide or deflector which may be lowered into the water to act purely as a braking means for the forward motion of the boat, as when approaching a landing, or adjusted .to different vertical positions in the water with reference to the propeller to obtain different boat speeds in either forward or reverse directions, with means included in the supporting structure and lever mechanism to releasably and yieldably retain said guide or deflector in its adjusted position.

Still further objects are: To provide a holding means, preferably in the form of a cable or the like, for retaining the outboard motor and its associated control means in a full operative position and prevent any tendency of the same to swing in a backwardly and upwardly direc tion away from the boat; to provide cooperating yielding clutch members as parts of the guide or deflector support and control lever; to pro- Application August 11, 1947, Serial No. 768,015

has been illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, the preferred forms of this invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side View showing the control means attached to a standard type of outboard motor. a I

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. e

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating the pivotal connection between the guide arm and an attaching clamp.

Figure 6 is a front viewof the preferred form of the guide or deflector. 1

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken onth'e line 1-'! of Figure 6. T

Figure 8 is a view looking upwardly at the discharge end 'of the guide or deflector. v

Figure 9 is a transverse sectionalviewof the top plateof the guideor deflector taken onthe line 9'-9of Figure Figure 10 is a transverse sectional viewof the top plate of the guide or deflector taken on the 'line Ill-4O of Figure 7. T

..ployed for causing frictional engagement of the clutch plates.

Figure .15 is a perspective view. of a modified form of the guide or deflector.

Figure 16 is a front View of the modified form of guide or deflector illustrated in Figure :15.

Figure 1'7 is a sectional view taken on the line I'|l l of Figure 1.6.

Figure 18 is a rear view, of the modified guide. FigurelQ isa bottom view of the guide shown in Figure 15 disclosing the discharge outlet.

I Figure ZO is a' sectional Viewv taken on the line 3 AA through the top wall of the guide shown in Figure 17.

Figure 21 is a similar view taken on the line BB of Figure 1'1.

Figure 22 is another view similar to Figures 20 and 21 taken on the line CC of Figure 1'7.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views, |4 indicatesa standard type of outboard motor which is secured to the boat by means of a bracket l5 and a pivoted sleeve l6, permitting both vertical and horizontal pivotal movements of the motor.

Detachably secured to the motor I4 is :asupport H, for mounting the guide or defiectorJfito said motor in a manner as to be adjusted vertically in-and-out of the ,water andcomp'rises in part the links I9, and 2|. The liIlkJS is, secured to a two-part clamp 22 which is shaped to conform with that portion of the outboard motor 'around which it is placed. The upper links 20'and 2| rare connected-at one end to link l-9 by means of a shaft'23 and are secured to the motor-casing --at their other end through-the mediumof screws 24, these-links also actas'bearings'for the shaft 23. In order to provide the necessary'rigidityto the supporting links [9, 20 and 2|, so far described,-a brace 25 is'secured to an edge 'of the link- 2 I -as at 26, and extends in anupwardly and forwardly direction to'be attached to the motor casing by a screw in the same-manner asglinks -20'and2 I.

Attachedto the guideor deflector, as by welding or otherwise, is the rod or bar 21 which may be of variousforms, buthere-s'hownas of-angular shape. Thebar is directly securedto the guidepor deflector at its outer end but to properly position the guide and-give-rigidity togthe connection, a spacing blockis employed as indicatedat 21'. In order thattheguidemay be swung vertically inand-out of thewater, the bar2l is pivotally connected-to the clamp bolt 28 having its endsprovided with spaced ears 29 for this purpose, as clearly shown in Figure 5 ,S paced somewhatfrom'theinner endofthebar 21 is secured, as by welding, an extension 30 having its lower end bifurcated as at 31 to straddle the fin '32, of the motor casing. This construction is provided as a means to steady or ,jlend rigidity to the control, while in operation, and

eliminates any possible tendency ,of the guide vibrating when passing through the water.

The bar 21 ,is ,further provided with ears 33, forming means for pivotally connecting the operating link 3.4 thereto, as'by a suitable bolt'35. The shaft 23, which i rotatably mounted in the ends of the links I9, 20 and 2| has attached thereto ,an operating lever 315, including parts .of a slip clutch *3] designed to'hold theguide or .deflector in adjusted position under normal operations, but will yield under abnormal conditions. The specific details of this clutch will be later described.

Also carried by the shaft 23 is a lever 38, having a hub 39, and a set screw .40 for securely fastening the'lever to the shafti23, this lever havmg connection with the operating links 34. It will be seen that when the lever 3,6 is swung-vertically from its full line position as shown in Figure 1, it will effect a corresponding movement of the guide or deflector I8, as clearly shown in dotted lines of thi figure, through the medium ofthe shaft "23 towhich the lever- 36 is connected, lever 38, the operating links 34 and the bar 21 attached to the guide. Any intermediate position poses or, as when trolling for fish. As the guide approaches or reaches its lowermost position /iaricdrdrives ,of 'the boat in reverse are obtained.

In the present invention, the guide or deflector I8 is provided with an entrance opening directed toward the propeller to receive the water drivenrearwardlythereby and an outlet openingdesigned to deliver the water in a column and cause it to be directed in a forwardly and downwardly direction. The guide is so proportioned as to cause the projected column of waterto be delivered'below the working area of the propeller and at a point-remote therefrom to obtain full effect power from the projected stream.

The preferred form of the guide or defiector l8 is disclosed in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive wherein the same embodies a top wall 4|, rear wall 42 and side walls 43, providing a forward-entrance opening 44 and a bottom delivery opening 45. "It willbe noted in Figure 7 that the top and rear walls 4| and 42, which are fashioned from a single sheet of metal, are curved longitudinally as an approximate arc of an oval, the curvature of the walls-gradually increasing from'the forward edge of the top wall to the lower edge of the rear wall to properly conduct the water rearwardly some distance and reverse its direction of flow to be delivered at a point distant from the pro-- peller and directed in a downwardly and -forwardlydirection. The rear wall 42 is straight transversely, as shown in Figure 8, while the top wall 4| is curved transversely in varying degrees beginning at the forward end as approximately semi-circular (Figure 6) and diminishing in curvature rearwardly as 'shownin Figures '9 and 1Q, until the same merges with the rear wall where it-is also straight.

The side walls 43 are connected to the edges'of -thetop wall 4| and-the edges of the rear wall -42. As will be seen in'Figures-fi and-8,:the rear wall is of less width at-itslower edge than-at "the point where it merges with the top wall 4| which provides a construction wherein the side walls converge both downwardly and rearwardly.

" The bottom opening '45 is approximately rectangular in form and has a discharge area equal to or greater than that of the entrance open ng '44 to prevent any tendency of pressure building up within the guide.

Attached to the side walls'43 are the bafilesAB and 41 extending varying degrees within the: guide and terminating at their lower edges in line with the angular edge 43 and the horizon-- 7 event that pressure should build up within these channels 48, channel 49,-formed'by baffle 41, W11]. act as-a'bleed opening topreventany waterfrom being projected laterally and not entering the guide, To facilitate, and aidthe entry of water .sistance offered. r

This form of guide is very efficient, especially.

- backward through the water.

forward edge of the guide may be slightly flared at 50, which will also strengthen the structure at this point. Further reinforcements may be added to theguide as seen fit, such as the angular brace 50', or the flange It will be noted that the water delivered from the propeller in a column of general cylindrical form is received in the entrance opening of the guide and gradually reformed, reversed and projected at the outlet opening 45, as a column which is approximately rectangular in cross section. It will be further noted that as the column of water reaches the outlet opening its direction of delivery will not only move the boat in a rearwardly direction, but in addition will act to elevate the stern of the boatso that its movement will be freer through the water due to less'rewhen driving a boat in reverse direction, as the same is of a shape and length to properly receive and-deliver the column of water in a downwardly and forwardly direction. .As. the .side plates 43 converge toward the rear, and the rear wall 42 is of small area, there is 'produceda guide which is more-or-less pointed offering veryv little resistance as it passes rearwardly through the water. y

In Figures to 22 there is disclosed a modification of the present invention dealing with the guide or deflector, which takes on a slightly different form, but functions in the same manner as the guide illustrated in Figures 6 to 10. In

this modified form the guide or deflector 52 is of general sector formation, having its top and rear walls 53 and 54 also fashioned from a single sheet of metal, but curved longitudinally as an arc of a circle shown clearly in Figure 17 of the drawing. The rear wall 54 is straight transversely, as shown in Figure 19, while the top wall 53 is curved transversely in varying degrees beginning at the forward end as semi-circular (Figures 15 and 16) and terminating in curvature rearwardly as shown in Figures 20 and 21 until 7 the same merges with the rear wall 54 where it is also straight (Figure 22).

Secured to the edges of the too and rear walls 53 and 54, are the side plates 55 to which are fastened the baflles 55 and 5'! for causing a curved and reverse flow of the column of water in the same general manner as in the guide of the preferred form. These bafiies extend into the guide to different degrees to carry the water and. redirect the same through the outlet opening 58, the lower edges of the bafiies terminate at the lower edges 59 of the side plates 55.

As will be seen the forward edge of the uide or deflector 52 is s ig tly flared at 60 to facilitate the entrance of the delivered water column. The channels 6|, formed bv the baffles 56. are designed to take care of all of the water deliveredto the guide or deflector but in the event that pressure should build up within the guide or deflector the passages 62, formed by the bafiles 51 will act'fas bleed openings to prevent any water from being projected laterally and not entering the guide.

As will be seen in Figures 16, 18 and 19 the rear wall 54 is of less width at its lower edge than at the point where it merges with the top wall 53 and that the side plates 55 converge toward the lowest point of the guide, as clearly seen in Figgure 19, presenting a somewhat narrow rear wall which offers less resistance as the guide passes It will be noted that-the water delivered from the propeller in a, column of general-cylindrical form is received in the entrance opening 63 of the guide or deflector and gradually reformed and reversed to be projected at the outlet opening 56, as a column which is either rectangular or square in cross-section. It is also true in this form that the water discharged from this guide will act to elevate the stern of the boat.

In order thatthe motor and its associated propulsion control may be held fixed at times to prevent any tendency of the same to swing rearwardly and upwardly, a lever 64 is secured to the shaft 23 and is perforated at 65 to receive a cable 61, which passes around a pin 68, carried by the bracket l5, and is finally secured to the pivot sleeve l6 at 69. When the lever 36 is in its lowermost position the cable 61 isheld taut which will prevent the motor and control mechanism from moving away from the bracket l5, on the other hand movement of the motor is permitted-when slack in the cable, as indicated at 10.

As is generally known, outboard motor boats are used for fishing and trips around pleasure resorts, and on numerous occasions these boats are required to run in shallow water Where submerged objects are present, as rocks, etc., and in order to protect the present control mechanism from damage there has been included in this construction a safety element in. the form of a slip clutch 31 for holding the guide or deflector in its adjusted position under normal operation, but will yield when an obstruction is encountered, to permit the guide to raise and ride over the same, this clutch being associated with the operating lever of the control and its support, the latter including the clamp 22, links I9, 20 and 2! and bracing arm 25. 7

As will be seen, on referring to Figures 12 and 13, this clutch is of the friction plate type embodying the fixed friction plates II, shown as of semi-circular form (Figure 13) and the movable friction plates 12 and 13 carried by the lever 36. The fixed plates H are supported in vertical position by the arms 14 to which they are rigidly attached. Due to the fact that one plate is secured to each side of the supporting arms 14, acting as spacers, these plates are properly separated to receive the movable plate 13 therebetween, the other movable plate 12 assuming a position adjacent to one of the fixed plates and acting additionally as an abutment during clutch-applying operation, The arm 14 may be formed as an integral part of the link 2!, or welded or otherwise secured thereto, as found most practical in manufacture. In order to properly position the fixed friction plates with reference to the movable plates, the arms 14 are bent at 15 to place the ends thereof out of plane with the link 2|, or otherwise fashioned to accomplish the same result.

The lever 36, which is secured to shaft 23, is provided with inwardly directed ears I6 for pivotally supporting a camming lever 11, being also equipped with ears [8 by which it isconnected to the ears of the" lever 36 by means of a bolt or pin 19.

This cam lever 11 is preferably of U-formation including the arms 86 and a bridging plate 8|, functioning as a friction plate and a camming pressure applying means. As the normal operation of the clutch is in applied positiona spring 82 is provided to swing the camming lever 11 into .75 clutch-applying position. This. spring maybe selected to apply the appropriate --pull on the .camming lever or so mounted as to have its tension adjusted. As shown in Figures 12 and 13 this spring is equipped with hooks at each end to be connected at one end in a hole 83 of the lever36, and a hole 84 of the plate 85 carried by the connecting bolt or pin 86 of the camming lever. -It will be seen that as the spring 82 is connected to the lever 36 at one end, and to the camminglever 11 at the other end, there exists a constant pull on the camming lever, swinging the same in a direction as to cause the bridging plate 8| to move or press the various friction plates 1!, l2 and'13 into engagement with each other and witha degree of pressure determined by the springtension employed. When adjusting the control to different operative positions, or an inactive position out of the water, the clutch is released and in order to accomplish this result a clutch-releasing lever 81, carried by the lever -36, is employed, having connection with the camming leverthrough the medium of the rod 89 attached at itslower end to the camrning lever as by the bolt or pin 85. Operation of this lever 81 will withdraw the camming lever against the pull of the spring, permitting the friction plates to separate and allow free adjustment of the guide or deflector as desired.

It is understood that minor changes may be made to the control means of this invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. ,A propulsion control attachmentforan outboard -motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide of general sector shape having a top wall, a rear wall and plain side walls, said top'wall and rear wall being longitudinally curved as an arc of an oval, said top wall being curved transversely, said rear "wall being straight transversely, the degree of transverse curvature of the top wall decreasing from the forward edge thereof until -it merges with the rear wall, said guide having a front entrance opening and a bottom outlet opening, and means attached to said motor for adjustably supporting said guide.

2. A propulsion control attachment for an outboard motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide having a top wall, a rear wall,

and plain sidewalls, the top and rear walls being longitudinally curved as an arc of an oval, said guide having'an entrance opening and-a bottom outlet opening and adjustably positioned to the rear of the propeller to direct the column of water delivered'thereto by the propeller in a forwardly and downwardly direction and beneath said propeller, baffle plates extending different thereto by the propeller in a forwardly and downwardly direction and beneath said propeller,

-means for attaching the guide to said'motor, and

a lever mechanism carried by said attaching means connected to said guide for adjusting the same vertically, said lever means including a slip clutch.

4. A propulsion control attachmentfor an outboard motor including a screw propeller, com

prising a guide to be positioned to the rearof the propeller having curved top-and rear walls and plain side walls for directinga column of water forwardly and downwardly and beneath said propeller, a support for the guide attached to the motor, a lever operatively connected to the guide and a slip clutch for holding the lever in adjusted position, said clutch comprising fixed and movable plates, and means for causing frictional engagement of said plates.

5. A propulsion control attachment for an outboard motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide adjustably positioned to the rear of the propeller having curved top and rear walls and plain side walls for directing a column of water forwardly and downwardly and beneath said propeller, a support for the guide attached to the motor, a lever operatively connected to the guide and a sli clutch for holding the lever in adjusted position,- said clutch comprising fixed plates carried by the support, movable plates secured to said lever and a spring-operated camming lever to normally hold said plates in'frictional engagement.

6. A propulsion control attachment for an outboard motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide adjustably positioned to the rear of the propeller having curved topand rear walls and plain side walls for directing a column of 'water forwardly and downwardly and beneath-said propeller, a support for the guide attached to the motor, a lever operatively connected to'the guide and a slip clutch for holding the lever in adjusted position, said clutch comprising fixed arcuate-shaped plates carried by said support, movable plate segments secured to said lever, a spring-operated camminglever to normally'hold said plates in frictional engagement, and means for releasing said clutch.

7. A propulsion control attachment for an outboard motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide to be positioned to the rear of the propeller having curved top and rear walls and plain downwardly and rearwardly converging side walls for directing a column ofwater forwardly and downwardly and beneath thepropeller, and a support for the guide attached to the motor comprising a bar extending longitudinally of the motor, attaching plates at each end of the bar for securing the same to'the motor, an arm having one of its ends pivotally connected to the bar and its other end attached to the guide, and a lever mechanism pivotally associated with the bar having link connection with the arm whereby operation of the lever mechanism will raise or lower the guide.

8. A propulsion control attachment for an outboard motor including a screw propeller, comprising a guide to bepositioned to the rear of the propeller having curved top and rear walls and plain downwardly and rearwardly converging side walls for directing a column of water forwardly and downwardly and beneath the propeller, and a support for the guide attached to the motor comprising a bar extending longitudinally of the motor, attaching plates at each endof the bar for securing. the same to the motor, an arm having one of its ends pivotally connected to the bar. and its other end attached tothe guide,-and-alever mechanism pivotally associated with the bar having link connection with the arm whereby operation of the lever mechanism willraise or lower the guide, said arm beingprovided with a bifurcated extension engageable with the motor when the guide is in its lowermost position to prevent lateral movement of the guide.

9. A propulsion control attachment foran outboard motor including a screw propeller comprising a guide of general sector shape to be positioned to the rear of the propeller having a top wall, a rear wall and side walls, said guide also having a front entrance opening and a downwardly directed discharge opening, the top and rear walls being longitudinally curved as an arc of an oval, the top wall being curved transversely, the rear wall being straight transversely, the degree of transverse curvature of the top wall descreasing from the forward edge thereof until it merges with the rear wall, the side walls being plain and converging downwardly and rearwardly, and a support for the guide attached to the motor comprising a bar extending longitudinally of the motor, attaching plates at each end of the bar for securing the same to the motor, 20

an arm having one of its ends pivotally connected to the bar and. its other end attached to the guide, and lever mechanism pivotally associated with the bar having link connection with the arm whereby operation of the lever mechanism will raise and lower the guide.

' PAUL R. REID.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 655,140 Wandler July 31, 1900 1,172,176 Stanley Feb. 15, 1916 1,374,095 Owen Apr. 5, 1921 1,402,080 McNab Jan. 3, 1922 1,511,146 Toner Oct. 7, 1924 2,200,836 Didriksen May 14, 1940 2,288,504 Weber June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 124,567 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1919 135,899 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1919 620,865 Germany Oct. 29, 1935 653,287 Germany Nov. 19, 1987 81,551 Austria Oct. 25, 1920 48,017 Denmark Nov. 2, 1933 4 4 0 Swe e ,=--A---.,---,- Dec- 12 

